The best display synonym for most sentences is simply show, but exhibit, present, showcase and reveal each add a useful shade. A museum exhibits, a speaker presents, a portfolio showcases, and a nervous smile reveals.
Display also works for feelings (she displayed no fear), for screens (the meter displays the speed) and as a noun (a window display). You will find separate word sets for each of those uses below.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
show, exhibit, present, showcase, revealPart of speech
Verb and nounMost formal
exhibit, manifest, evinceMost casual
show off, put up, pop upAntonyms
hide, conceal, maskWatch out
Flaunt and parade suggest vanity. Do not use them for a neutral museum or shop display.Word forms covered
displays, displayed, displaying
Another word for display, matched to context
| Setting | Words to use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Art, museums, fairs | exhibit, showcase, hang, mount | The gallery exhibits local potters. |
| Shops and tables | set out, arrange, lay out, feature | Fresh bread is set out by the door. |
| Talks and reports | present, show, demonstrate | The chart presents yearly sales. |
| Feelings and traits | reveal, express, betray | Her face betrayed her worry. |
| Screens and devices | show, read, indicate | The gauge reads empty. |
How formal is each display synonym
The chip strip climbs from casual to formal. Show fits anywhere. Set out is plain and practical, good for food or tools. Present sounds organized, as if someone prepared it. Exhibit belongs to galleries, science fairs and also to formal writing about behavior: patients exhibited mild symptoms. Manifest sits at the formal end, fitting a quality that becomes visible over time.
Real swaps, line by line
- The shop displays new shoes in the window becomes the shop features new shoes in the window.
- The museum will display the letters becomes the museum will exhibit the letters.
- He displayed great courage becomes he showed great courage.
- The screen displays an error becomes an error pops up on the screen in casual speech.
- She likes to display her medals becomes she likes to flaunt her medals, if you mean she brags.
- A display of fireworks becomes a fireworks show or a spectacle of fireworks.
In a portfolio intro: "This page displays my design work." Changing it to "This page showcases my design work" tells the reader these are chosen highlights, which is exactly what a portfolio is. The showcase page has more options.
Displays, displayed and displaying
A good displays synonym keeps the same group. For things on view, try shows, exhibits or features. For a trait, try reveals or shows: the report reveals a clear trend. Displayed becomes shown, exhibited or on view: items on view in the lobby. Displaying becomes showing or featuring. As a noun, a display becomes an exhibition, an arrangement or, for a single dramatic event, a spectacle.
Mistakes that change the meaning
Demonstrate means show how something works or prove a point, so it needs action, not just viewing. Reveal means show something that was hidden, which a shop shelf is not. Express works for feelings and ideas, not objects. And flaunt is not flout: flaunt means show off, flout means break a rule openly.
For more general alternatives, the show synonyms page covers the broader verb.
The reverse: hiding words
Start with hide, then conceal for a more formal ring. Mask and disguise mean covering one thing with another. Suppress fits feelings you hold back, and withhold fits information.
- He tried to mask his surprise.
- The shop concealed the cables behind a panel.
Frequently asked questions
Which synonym for display fits a formal report?
Exhibit and present are formal and common. Manifest and evince go further and belong in academic work about traits.
Is showcase better than display?
Showcase suggests you picked the best items to highlight. Display is neutral and simply means put on view.
How do I reword the screen displays?
The screen shows, reads or indicates. Pops up works in casual speech for a sudden message.
Which word means displaying something to brag?
Flaunt and show off. Parade is similar and suggests showing something again and again.
What is the opposite of display?
Hide is the everyday opposite, conceal the formal one. Mask and suppress fit feelings.
What noun can replace a display?
Exhibition, presentation, arrangement or spectacle, depending on whether it is art, a talk, an organized set of items or a dramatic event.